Pressure responsive pipe joint seal



March 17, 1953 A. L. STONE PRESSURE RESPONSIVE PIPE JQINT SEAL Filed April 30 1949 [4155 5271i. STONE, mmvron.

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flrroeuzyv inter-thread seal.

Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSURE REsPoNsIvE; PIPE JOINT SEAL Albert L. Stone, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. Application April 30, 1949, Serial No. 90,678 3 Claims. (01. 285-146) This invention relates to improved sealing means for preventing fluid leakages through thread clearances in threaded pipe joints, the

invention being applicable to the sealing of threaded pipe joints generally and having particular, though typical, utility for sealing the joints in well pipe such as casing, tubing, drill pipe and the like. In its more specific aspects, the present invention is directed to improvements in the types and forms of seals disclosed in my copending application Serial Number 630,196, filed November 23, 1945, on Pipe Joint Seal, and

- ,of which the present application is a continuation-in-part.

The present type of seal may be characterized as useable in a joint comprising inner and outer sections having interengaging threads with small clearance spaces therebetween, and comprising a body of deformable material contained within an opening or recess occupying a portion only of the annular thread area of one of the sections and tightly pressed against the opposing thread or threads of the opposing section to form across the clearance space a dam which effectively seals the joint against fluid leakage through the space. As indicated, the dam element is made of a material deformable in tight and sealing conformance with the thread shapes against which it is pressed, such material preferably being nonmetallic and having elastic or shape-restoring qualities, particularly where it is intended that I the same dam element may have repeated uses and continued sealing effectiveness in a joint that may be repeatedly broken and made-up. Preferred materials are the natural or synthetic rubbers, and the organic or resinous plastic compositions characterized by their deformability and tendency for substantial shape restoration.

One of my primary objects is to improve upon the sealing dam in respects rendering it most effectively responsive to an applied fluid pressure, in assuring the maintenance of a perfect In this respect the invention contemplates the insertion in a transverse opening in one of the joint sections, of a dam element which is bodily movable within the opening as it is pressed against the threads, and which has a sealing relation with the wall of the opening so that element assumes the full pressure of afluid (e. g., inside the joint) tending to force the element in a sealing direction, while preventing leakage of such fluid around or past the element. In accordance with the invention, the element is provided with a sealing lip engaging the opening wall and formed as by recessing or cavitating v the end of the element. Preferably the lip, how? ever formed, is given a normal or preformed diameter larger than the opening, 50' that when inserted therein, the lip lies 'in snug sealingiengagement against the wall of the opening.

For many purposes it is preferred to subject the dam element to the fluid pressure under the joint, and to cause the element to be forced outwardly against the threads of the outer section. In such instances the inner joint section may have an opening drilled through its threaded wall to contain the dam insert, so that the pressure tending to create fluid leakage through'the thread clearance will at the same time forcerthe dam into tightly sealed condition. across the space. r

The various features and objects 'of the invention, as well as the details of certain illustrative embodiments, will be explained more fully and to better advantage in the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment shown by the accompanying, drawing, in whichi Fig. 1 is a sectional View showing a joint structure containing the thread seals; N

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross section on line 22ofFig.1;

Fig; 3 is a view, partly in section, of the sealp ug itself; I

.. ,Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line .4--4'of Fig. 2; and

variational form-of the invention.

Fig. ,5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating a As illustrative of a threaded joint structure adaptedto be sealed against fluid leakage in accordance with the invention, I have shown in threaded box section I2. I

that the spiral or helical threads l3 may have Fig.. 1 an oil wellcasing joint structure generally indicated at 10, comprising an externally threaded pin section II screwed into the internally It will be understood with the art. The particular consideration 30f importance here is that spiral clearance spaces may existor develop at I5 between the thread crest and opposing-recess spaces, which, Particularly where relatively high pressure differentials may exist between the inside and outside of the joint, can initiate through the thread clearancefluid leakage which in the course 'of' time may results in erosion and leakage i'ncrease'fto serious proportions' r V], g The invention contemplates positively sealing the joint against fluid leakage either outwardly or inwardly through the thread clearance, by inserting within either one or both of the joint sections I l and I2 a sealing element engageable in each instance against opposing threads of the other section, to tightly seal off fluid leakage through the clearance space 15. Particularly contemplated is the use of a sealing or dam element .made preferably of an essentially nonmetallic material having the properties of deformability in response to applied pressure, and of sufficient resiliency or elasticity, as to have at least substantial shape-restoring tendencies. Further and also particularly contemplated is the maintenance of the sealing element in a location and condition such that it is tightly urged in sealing condition by the fluid pressure tending to create any leakage through the joint.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, the inner pin section 'I I of the joint is drilled at a location preferably near its inner end, to form a counterbore l6 intersecting typically a pair of the inner section threads I3 and occupying a, small fraction f of the total circular extent of the threads so that the joint strength is not appreciably affected. The counterbore I6 terminates at shoulder I! j containing the smaller diameter bore or opening l8. Asillustrated, the counterbore contains a sealing element l9 which may have essentially .the form of a circular cross section plug formed for'exampleof rubber. The thread engaging end {of the plug is shown to have a pair of reduced projections 2D receivable between successive threads of the box section [2, it being found that the projections are highly efiective in maintaining fluid tight seals against the threads when shaped and proportioned substantially in accordance with segments of the threads themselves.

Referring to Fig. 3, the sealing element I9 is preformed to present at its end opposite the proje'ctions 20, an annular lip 2| responsive to fluid pressure within the'joint in a'manner'causing the "up to be pressed into fluid tight engagement with the wall of bore I 6. Preferably such lip formation is given the inner end of the seal by cavitating the v body [9 at 22 to a depth such that its thickness at 23 is reduced 'to a degree forming a pressure responsive lip. The sealing effectiveness of them- I sert is further enhanced'by preforming the lip 23 with a diameter, as indicated at 2M, greater than the diameter of thebore l6, so that the lip "is constantly pressed by virtue of the resiliency of'the elastic material, against the bore wall. As

' will be apparent, shoulder l1 and the opening "I8 together prevent loss of the sealing insert outof its opening when the joint is made up, while permitting direct communication of fluid'pr'essure to'its lipped end.

' Instead of or in addition to placement of the joint may be communicated to the seal. 7

The form of the invention illustrated in Fig.

i is similar to the described embodiment in emiploying a sealing element 30 having about the cavitation 3| pressure expansible lip 32. I-Iere however the plug is assumed to be received within a tapered bore 33 against which the plug ena ,w t 11.1 1 gli l t g ilne s a Pli tends to displace the plug toward the threads.

The plug may be preformed to have an outer surface taper corresponding substantially to the angularity of the bore 33.

In making up the joint assembly 10, the threads I3 may be left uncoated or dry, or they may be coated with a suitable sealing compound or lubricant, the function of which may be either or both to lubricate engagement and disengagement of the threads and to fill the clearance spaces I4 with a plastic or flowable compound tending to prevent fluid leakage therethrough. Such lubricants or sealing compounds are of coursewell known and in common use. As the joint sections are screwed together, the sealing elements l9 or 21 tend to wipe or crowd the sealing compound forwardly along the threads toward the inner pin end of the joint, thus ultimately placing the compound in a condition such that it is interposed between the inner end of the clearance space I4 and the sealing element. Thus fluid leakage from within the joint is resisted not only by reason'of the presence of the sealing compound in the clearance space, but also because the sealing element imposes a positive barrier against pressure displacement of the sealing compound or lubricant. The effect of fluid pressure application to the lipped end of the sealing element, is to crowd the projections 20 in full tight sealing engagement with the opposed.

thread surfaces, and of course thehigher the pressure tending to create leakage through the joint, the tighter will be the seal effected in'response to that pressure. Particularly where extremely high pressures are-encountered, the plug material may tend to flow into any exposed clearances, as for example at33l. However, notwith- "fluid-containing space betweenthe threads, a body of deformable material contained within a recess occupying a portion only of 'the annular extent Dune threads of one of the sections and having'an end engaging the threads'of theoth'er I said body being unattached to the wall of 'said recess and being bodily movable therein, said end of the body having a'pair of preformed projections receivable'between and in sealing engagement with adjacent threads on said other section, and means communicating to'saidbody the fluid'pressure'inside said sections to force the body against said other section threads.

2. A tubular joint comprising inner and outer sections having interengaging threads'and spiral fluid-containingspace between the threads, a dam of deformable material contained within'an opening in the inner section occupying only" a portion of the annular extent of the threads thereof and engaging the threads of the outer section to form a fluid-tight seal across said space, said dam being composed essentially 'of rubber and being unattached to the wallof said openingso that the dam is bodily'movable therein, said'end of the body having a pair of projections receivable between andpreformed-substantially in accordance with segments" of adjacent threads on said outer section the fluid pressure "insidesaid section'sfbeingpommunicated to -said "damto forc'e' itaga'inst the euterseeuea threads.

3. A tubular joint comprising inner and outer sections having interengaging threads and spiral fluid-containing space between the threads, a body of deformable material contained withina recess occupying a portion only of the annular extent of the threads of one of the sections and having an end engaging the threads of the other section to form a dam across said space to seal the joint against fluid leakage therethrough, said body being unattached to the Wall of said recess and being bodily movable therein, said end of the body having a pair of preformed projections receivable between and in sealing engagement with adjacent threads on said other section, said body being composed of material having elastic qualities giving to the body shape restoring characteristics, and means communicating to said body the fluid pressure inside said sections to force the body against said other section threads.

ALBERT L. STONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

